Sardinian Reformers

Political party in Sardinia

The Sardinian Reformers (Italian: Riformatori Sardi, RS) is a regionalist[1] and liberal-conservative[1] political party in Sardinia, led by Michele Cossa. The party, which has always been part of the centre-right at the Sardinian regional level, is a keen supporter of the free market, competition, globalization and a two-party system.[2]

History

The party emerged in 1993 as the Sardinian section of the Segni Pact. This list was launched by Mario Segni, a former Christian Democrat from Sardinia, and was composed of former Christian Democrats and Liberals.

When the Segni Pact entered The Olive Tree centre-left coalition in the run-up for the 1996 general election (through Italian Renewal), the RS gained some independence from the mother-party, and, when at the 1999 European Parliament election Segni formed a joint electoral list with National Alliance, some of their members looked closer to Forza Italia.

Led by Michele Cossa and Massimo Fantola, the RS were part of the centre-right in Sardinia since 1999 and, at the 2001 general election, Cossa was elected deputy in a single-seat constituency in Cagliari for the House of Freedoms coalition.

During the years in government of Silvio Berlusconi (2001–2006), the RS started to be critical of the centre-right. In 2003 the RS contributed to the foundation of the new national party of Mario Segni named Pact of Liberal Democrats. This party was on the ballot at the 2004 European Parliament election and won only a misere 0.5% (7.4% in Sardinia). In the same year RS won 5.9% of the vote at the regional election, having four Reformers elected to the Regional Council.

In the 2006 general election, Fantola was elected senators for the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats (UDC), at the time member of the House of Freedoms, while Cossa, candidate for the Chamber of Deputies, failed to be elected. For the 2008 general election they tried to form an alliance with The People of Freedom, but talks failed.

At the 2009 regional election, the party was part of the centre-right coalition in support of Ugo Cappellacci, who was elected president. The RS won 6.8% of the vote (having their strongholds in the provinces of Oristano and Olbia-Tempio, where they gained 10.0 and 8.7%, respectively[3]) and five regional councillors (including Cossa) plus one (Franco Meloni, a former leading member of the Sardinian Action Party) elected in Cappellacci's regional list.[4]

At the 2010 provincial elections, the party was strongest in Oristano (9.0%), Olbia-Tempio (8.9%) and Cagliari (7.3%).[5] In 2011 Fantola was the centre-right candidate for mayor of Cagliari, but he was severely defeated by his left-wing opponent.[6]

In the 2013 general election, the RS were part of Civic Choice and Reformer Pierpaolo Vargiu was elected to the Chamber.[7][8]

In the 2014 regional election, during which Cappellacci lost to Francesco Pigliaru, the RS won 6.0% of the vote and three regional councillors.[9]

In the 2019 regional election the RS supported the winning President, Christian Solinas of the Sardinian Action Party, won 5.0% of the vote and three regional councillors.

In the 2024 regional election the RS, a member of the losing centre-right coalition, obtained 7.2% of the vote and doubled its regional councillors to four.

Popular support

The electoral results of the RS in Sardinia since 1994 are shown in the table below.

1994 general 1994 European 1994 regional 1996 general 1999 European 1999 regional 2001 general 2004 European 2004 regional 2006 general 2008 general 2009 regional 2009 European 2013 general
17.4[a] 15.0[a] 9.2[a] -[b] -[c] 4.4 - 7.4[d] 6.0 -[e] - 6.8 - 6.0[f]
2014 European 2014 regional 2018 general 2019 European 2019 regional 2022 general 2024 regional
- 6.0 - - 5.0 - 7.2

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c This result refers to the list of the Segni Pact.
  2. ^ Italian Renewal received 7.0%.
  3. ^ The RS took part to the joint list of National Alliance and the Segni Pact that gained 12.7% in Sardinia.
  4. ^ The result refers to the Pact of Liberal Democrats that comprised RS candidates for Sardinia.
  5. ^ The RS formed a joint list with the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats that gained 7.7% in Sardinia.
  6. ^ The result refers to the Civic Choice which formed a joint list with RS.

References

  1. ^ a b Nordsieck, Wolfram (2019). "Sardinia/Italy". Parties and Elections in Europe. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  2. ^ Chi Siamo | Riformatori Sardi
  3. ^ Risultati per circoscrizione-Regione Autonoma della Sardegna
  4. ^ http://www.regione.sardegna.it/documenti/1_204_20090302175233.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  5. ^ Ministry of the Interior Archived 2010-04-01 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Comune di CAGLIARI ( CAGLIARI ) - Elezioni comunali del 29 e 30 maggio 2011 - II turno - Ministero dell'Interno". Archived from the original on 2012-03-11. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  7. ^ Ecco la squadra di Monti in Sardegna Capolista Vargiu, La Spisa numero "2" - Cronache dalla Sardegna - L'Unione Sarda
  8. ^ Pierpaolo Vargiu - Sardegna | Scelta Civica per l'Italia
  9. ^ Sardegna - Elezioni Regionali del 16 febbraio 2014 - la Repubblica.it

External links

  • Official website
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  • Historical Italian political parties
  • 19th-century Italian political groups
  • Early 20th-century Italian political parties
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